This blog supports Scottish Independence. Comments on it, and contents of linked blogs, do not necessarily reflect Munguin's opinions.

Thursday, 10 January 2013

IN WHICH CAMEROON IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AND WILLETS APPEARS TO HAVE MISLAID BOTH HIS BRAINS AT THE SAME TIME

Oh dear, poor old Cameron. As if he hasn't got enough problems on Europe with his right wingers, and funny old Nigel, now the United States of America, in Cameron's own words, our 'senior partner' has indicated that it wants Britain or at least England (as that's that's bit of Britain that does what it is told) to stay in Europe. In what is quite a blatant piece of amusing interfering, Philip Gordon, an American diplomat involved with the EU and its members, has said (somewhat in a somewhat syrupy fashion that while it is for the British Government and the British people (sic) to decide their future regrading Europe, Britain has been such a special partner to the US, with its shared values (money and power) and shared interests (power and money) that its (Britain's) voice at the European table has often been of great use to America.I suspect that that could be read as: Look, we obviously can't be at the table in the EU; we aren't European, but our little poodle with the green teeth is and therefore can. Now, we let him have a ride in Air Force One, and let him sleep in President Obama's bed (albeit that President Obama wasn't using it at the time), so we expect payback. So sort out the whiny Europhobes, or next time you're here you'll be treated like Brown was. Get it?If I had just a little fellow feeling for him, I'd sympathise, but he and I aren't even of the same species, so I don't. Life's a bitch Cameron... then you die. Get used to it.*****

I was interested to read in a recent edition of Private Eye, that JP Morgan, the bank, is negotiating the repayment of £500 million in back taxes, apparently after a scheme to pay its executives via jersey was (inexplicably) found to be unacceptable tax avoidance. This comes on top of a £450,000 fine for Ian Hannam, its senior London executive for market abuse. Meanwhile in the USA the bank was fined $295,000 for a mortgage scam, and was suspended from energy trading because it lied to an inquiry investigating Californian energy prices. I was then puzzled to read that the English Universities minister, David Willets, has been accepting paid commissions from them. Indeed he and his wife have repeatedly been guests of JP Morgan in Scotland where most recently he spoke about pensions (although why anyone would want advice about pensions from a British minister is beyond me, unless of course it was ministerial pensions he was talking about.) As the Eye suggests, with Willets famously having two brains, it might not be too much to expect him to make use of just one of them next time a dicey company offers to give him money for his services and say No. Nah, right, silly me.*****

I dunno Niko. You train them to be good unionist journos and lie through their teeth, and how do they repay you?

Sack em mate... that's what I'd do.

if they can't stand the heat, their better out of the ...erm, whatsit.

Welcoming the outcome of Sir David Bell KCB’s inquiry into the First Minister’s conduct over the issue of legal advice surrounding an independent Scotland’s continued EU membership – in which the First Minister was again found to have acted entirely in accordance with the Ministerial Code – SNP MSP Aileen McLeod called on opposition politicians to accept the outcome end their run of baseless accusations and smears.

Commenting, Ms McLeod said:

“Sir David has investigated this matter thoroughly and concluded that the First Minister acted in accordance with the Ministerial Code. As he points out, the conclusion of the Edinburgh Agreement provided the right context to obtain advice from law officers – which is exactly what the Scottish Government has done.

“Time and time again, opposition politicians – unable to do their own job properly – have resorted to baseless accusations and personal insults, rather than debate the substantive issues themselves.

“We have now had six referrals under the ministerial code – and in all six cases, the independent verdict has been that the First Minister and his Ministers acted in accordance with the code.

“There are so many pressing issues facing this country, and at the start of the New Year our opposition politicians should be resolving to offer a more positive and grown-up debate that the people of Scotland deserve.”

“I have not found you, or the Scottish Government, to have breached the Ministerial Code in respect of any complaints made by Ms Stihler. I have though recommended that the Scottish Government considers revising those parts of the code relating to legal advice.”

Sir David examined five separate grounds of complaint from Ms Stihler – and in each case he found that the First Minister and the Scottish Government had acted fully in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

The report also concludes that “the Edinburgh Agreement was the appropriate moment to seek specific legal advice from the Law Officers … it was only when the details of the referendum process became clear that you were in a position to seek such advice.”

Sir David also recommends that the Scottish Government considers whether the part of the Ministerial Code relating to legal advice could be redrafted in a clearer and more accessible form – a recommendation which the Government accepts.

“I would like to thank Sir David for his very thorough and detailed report, the findings of which clearly demonstrate that there was no breach of the Ministerial Code on this matter.

“I welcome the report which demonstrates that I and the rest of the Scottish Government acted entirely in accordance with the Scottish Ministerial Code. I also welcome his conclusion that the signing of the Edinburgh Agreement was the appropriate moment at which to seek specific legal advice on an independent Scotland’s continued membership of the European Union.

“Sir David also recommends that the Scottish Government considers whether the section of its Ministerial Code relating to legal advice provided to Ministers should be redrafted to make it clearer. That is a recommendation I am happy to accept, and work will now be taken forward by Government officials with that aim in mind.

“This has been the sixth complaint to be referred to the independent panel of advisers I introduced in 2008 to rule on these matters. I am delighted that each complaint has been dismissed and the advisers concluded my ministers and I have acted entirely properly at all times.”

was walking along and saw this guycoming the other way.........kinda looked like a unemployed skiver(it was late in the afternoon so he was outa bed)

I goes up to him and says 'you on benefits mate'I could tell by his white sweaty pallor he was a welfare dependent addict.

he say so wot mate

I smashes him in the face and kick the shite outta him old bill turns upstops me. but when i explained what the guy was they said sorry sir carry on .And then gave the skiver a swift kick in the guts before leaving the scene.

Sounds reasonable to me. I would like to know who thinks I'm not paying them enough, because I think I am, and if they don't like it they can see if they can get a job in another parliament that will pay them more.

I mean it's not like any of them was any bloody good anyway.

I have been waiting for them to say that in the light of the cuts being made everywhere else they will take a 10% reduction in pay. Fat home huh, from a bunch of self serving troughers.

As for the lords they should put a match to it with them all inside.

But if they must keep it and if all the talk of reform was another load of hot air from a government of pee and wind... then I wholeheartedly approve of your suggestion.

Furthermore it should be open to anyone who wants to join... They could do it as part of the Big Society crap of Camergoon's infertile imagination.

I think we will be waiting a long time for the apology from labour, they don't do sorry or standing up for the poor. Never did.

I don't get the Europe thing at all, personally I think we should stay in it and try to change it from within. Not that I trust them any more than Westminster but being in is probably better than being out. Either way happy to have a referendum and let the people decide. I think Scots would vote to join.

America does not do anything that is not in Americas interests, lets be clear on that. I have seen first hand how their politics work, other than the hold that Israel appears to have over the USA I don't think they really give a crap if it does not serve their interests. Saying that Cameron is going to offer a referendum if he wins another term, which he might if audiences on Question Time in England are to go by. England will vote to leave the EU so all the posturing in Holyrood will be made out to be the farce that it is.

As far as the gravy train is concerned they are all it in the three tory parties. No doubt some in the SNP might be at it as well. Sadly public service for most MPs and MSPs is a dirty word, this is about what they can get out of it. Slightly off point last night on QT fat Prescott noted that he had only been a politician for 40 years and never had another job, says it all about Labour and how far it's fallen really.

I suppose I could go on but I might just depress the both of us and January is a crappy month as it is, especially with the snow on the way. Good article though so thanks for more enlightenment.

I would say, if labour etc and the press pursued what passes for the 'Opposition' in the Scottish parliament, and if said opposition & press where as energetic in putting the interests of Scotland first then said opposition would be fucked six ways from Sunday and Scotland would already be significantly better off if not already independent.

I also watched Prescott on QT last night, I spent most of the broadcast trying to decide who deserved the majority of my ire, him or that throbber Dories.

They should put that guy from The Big Issue in charge, the rest were a bunch of wet rags.

On MP's pay, they should be subject to the same working conditions as any other civil servant.

In fairness to America, I suppose that most countries do (and should) consider their own interests first.

I'm not sure about being in the EU. There is a huge amount that I don't like about it, but I understand that Norway has to stick by all the rules, and pay money to the EU to enjoy its isolated status.

This is approximately the same situation that Scotland finds itself in. The UK government represents the UK (and America) at the table, but in matters like the fisheries and agricultural policies where we have our own ministers, it is the English minister who attends meetings, and the English civil servants who do the proper work. In short Scotland's interests and needs are not taken into consideration. It certainly worries me that being on the outside of the EU wouldn't be a good place to be.

I totally agree that middle England would vote to come out and middle Scotland, if there is such a thing, being a little less prejudiced and a little more cerebral, would probably vote to stay in.

It will be interesting to see what WILL happen. Although hopefully we will be a separate country by then and won't be dragged somewhere we don't want to go by a mob of right wing muppets in the Home Counties.

I didn't see the programme as I was entertaining !!!! (Yes, I do have friends... well.OK, A friend then.)

Anyway, in my book, without having seen it, Dorries would win hands down for being a complete bamstick. The woman is straight out of a loony bin.

But since his elevation to the aristocracy Presser has lost any respect I once had for him.

If only we had a press that didn't lie through its teeth at every opportunity to put down a government which is making a real difference to people's lives and if only we had some opposition, instead of the braying sheep on the Labour benches and David Cameron in a skirt on the Tory benches, we would be better off.

There are some others I know. A weird little sub sect of the Tory party, I seem to recall... what are they called again Lie Berals?

They are far too busy trying to score points off the government to bother their lazy backsides on anything else.

Mind you, from what I can see, they are running their campaigns into the ground with their negativity and hatred.

Sorry about above posts. I didn't have time to read them back and check spelling and stuff. Almighty hurry and LATE LATE LATE...